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2008 SESSION

086295284
SENATE BILL NO. 599
Offered January 9, 2008
Prefiled January 9, 2008
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 51.1-142.2:01, relating to additional creditable service for special forest wardens.
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Patron-- Norment
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Referred to Committee on Finance
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 51.1-142.2:01 as follows:

§ 51.1-142.2:01. Additional creditable service for special forest wardens.

A. For purposes of this section:

“Fighting forest fires” means participating directly in extinguishing a forest fire.

“Prescribed burning” means the same as that term is defined in § 10.1-1150.1.

B. A special forest warden in service as an employee of the Department of Forestry shall be credited with additional creditable service for the following duties performed by him in the scope of his employment: (i) fighting forest fires; (ii) participating in fire or firefighter training conducted by the Department or an agent thereof; (iii) directly participating in a prescribed burning; (iv) directly conducting an investigation relating to the cause of a forest fire; and (v) directly participating in fighting or directly acting to suppress the danger to life or property from other emergencies such as hurricanes, floods, and ice storms. Such special forest warden shall receive eight hours of additional creditable service for each day, or portion thereof, in which he performs one or more of the duties described in clauses (i) through (v). The additional creditable service provided under this section shall be in addition to the creditable service otherwise credited to special forest wardens pursuant to this title.

C. At least semiannually and in accordance with reporting dates established by the Board, the State Forester shall provide a written certification to the Director of the Virginia Retirement System that reports the name of each special forest warden who has performed one or more of the duties described in clauses (i) through (v) of subsection B during the reporting period, the total number of days or any portion thereof that each special forest warden performed one or more of such duties during the reporting period, and such other information as may be requested by the Board or Director for purposes of implementing the provisions of this section. Upon receiving such certification, the Director shall as soon as practicable credit the special forest warden with the additional creditable service described in subsection B.

D. The actuarial cost relating to the additional creditable service described under this section shall be charged to the Department of Forestry and incorporated into the Department’s annual employer contribution determined pursuant to § 51.1-145.

2.  That any special forest warden in service as an employee of the Department of Forestry shall be credited with the additional creditable service described in subsection B of § 51.1-142.2:01 for the qualifying duties described under such subsection that were performed by such person on or after January 1, 2003, but prior to July 1, 2008, while employed as a special forest warden of the Department of Forestry. The Director of the Virginia Retirement System shall develop procedures for crediting such additional creditable service described under this enactment.